Baotou Rare Earth High-Tech Industrial Development Zone has been approved as a national foreign trade transformation and upgrading base (non-ferrous metal materials) by the Ministry of Commerce, according to local media.

It is the only winner on the list from North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Assessment of the national-level transformation and upgrading of foreign trade bases is aimed at strengthening the integration of industry and trade, and boosting the steady growth and structural adjustment of foreign trade. The bases identified this year cover areas including mechanical and electrical products, agricultural products, light industrial products, textiles and clothing, and new material.

Ten 10 bases in textile and clothing, new materials and agricultural products were identified in Inner Mongolia. The bases are located in Baotou, Hohhot, Bayannuur, Ordos, Tongliao and Chifeng.

Approved by the State Council in 1992, Baotou Rare Earth High-Tech Industrial Development Zone is the only high-tech district dedicated to the rare earth industry among China’s 53 national high-tech zones, and is the only national-level high-tech zone in Inner Mongolia.

The zone has formed rare earth industrial clusters integrating rare earth production, scientific research, trading, inspection, information, financing and academic exchanges. There are 97 rare earth industrial enterprises, of which seven are rare earth raw material enterprises, 53 are new rare earth materials enterprises, and seven are rare earth terminal application companies.

Also, the district boasts the Baotou Research Institute of Rare Earth, the largest comprehensive research and development organization into rare earth technology in China.

Baotou Rare Earth High-Tech Industrial Development Zone [Photo/ rev.gov.cn]